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Isle of Skye

Brochel Castle

The MacLeods of Raasay's castle on a stack of rock above the Inner Sound, where Calum's Road begins.

Welcome

Brochel Castle stands where Calum's Road begins, on the quiet east coast of Raasay, and it looks as if it grew out of the rock.

Visited and photographed by Simon Hird

The MacLeods of Raasay built it in the early 1500s on a stack of conglomerate some 15 metres high, fitting their walls of sandstone and basalt into every ledge, with the Inner Sound laid out in front of them for watching boats.

They lived here until the later 1600s, then moved to a house near the present Raasay House, and the castle has been falling ever since. It is fenced off now and signs ask you to keep out, because the walls are unsafe, but the finest view is from the road in any case: a ruin on a pinnacle with the sea behind it. Take the ferry from Sconser, give the island a whole day, and finish with the drive north along Calum's Road.

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The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
A ruined stone castle crowns a rocky headland above the sea.
Brochel Castle on its rock, the Inner Sound behind.Press a mark to look closer.
Before you go

The castle belongs to the Highland Council.

It is fenced off and signs ask you to keep out, because the walls are unsafe.

Getting there
The ferry from Sconser on Skye to Raasay takes 25 minutes; the castle is on the island's east coast, where Calum's Road begins.
Parking
Park nearby and look from the road or the fence.
Keep out
Do not climb or go inside: the ruin is in a dangerous state, and every visitor who does wears it further.
Nearby
Arnish, at the far end of Calum's Road, is about 2.7 kilometres on, by the map.

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Did you know

A ruined stone castle stands on a rocky headland above the sea.
Did you know

A sentry who could see nothing.

Inside the gate a sentry box is cut into the rock. Boswell saw it in 1773 and wrote that the man placed there could only listen for noise: he could see nothing.

A black-and-white view shows a small hut on a shingle beach below a misty coastal hillside.
Did you know

One of two castles in 1549.

Dean Monro, vicar of Snizort and Raasay, described the Hebrides in 1549 and counted two castles on Raasay. Brochel was one, and it had a fair orchard.

A ruined stone castle sits on a rocky crag above green and rust-coloured hillside.
Did you know

Painted in 1819.

William Daniell painted Brochel in 1819 for his Voyage Round Great Britain. His picture still shows the battlemented tower on the upper level, of which only footings are left.

A ruined stone castle sits atop a rocky headland above the sea, seen from a different angle.
Did you know

Left for a house by the shore.

John Garbh MacLeod, seventh of Raasay, was probably the last to live here. After his death in 1671 the family is thought to have moved to a house near the present Raasay House.

A misty rocky cove with a pebble beach sits below a fern-covered cliff.
Did you know

Built with a purse of gold, the story goes.

A Raasay tale says a man called Gille Mor was given gold he could not in conscience keep, and gave it to the Laird of Raasay, who built Brochel with it.

Sheep graze in a field below a ruined castle perched on a rocky sea stack.
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Where it is

On the east coast of Raasay, where Calum's Road begins, about 2.7 kilometres from Arnish by the map.

Close byThe places nearest the castle, on Raasay.
  1. Calum's RoadCalum's RoadThe twisting, plunging road north through Raasay, with an uncommon tale to tell.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. RaasayRaasayThe island itself, 25 minutes by ferry from Sconser, home to around 160 people.5 miles 6 min by road
  3. Pictish StonePictish StoneA carved early Christian stone, found near the harbour in 1800.9 miles 11 min by road
  4. Temptation HillTemptation HillA short, sharp climb with views across the Sound of Raasay to Skye.9 miles 11 min by road
  5. Raasay Walled GardenRaasay Walled GardenThe old kitchen garden of Raasay House, restored by the island community and open every day, free.9 miles 11 min by road
  6. St Moluag's ChapelSt Moluag's ChapelThe roofless walls of a chapel from the 1200s, in a graveyard behind Raasay House.9 miles 12 min by road
  7. Isle of Raasay DistilleryIsle of Raasay DistilleryA distillery with rooms of its own, a short walk from the ferry.9 miles 13 min by road
Directions
The stair hall of Raasay Gallery hung with paintings to the ceiling, a large canvas of a green island standing on an easel.AttractionsRaasay Gallery8.6 miles
Calum and Leonie with Daisy the dog.ShoppingThe Exchange8.8 miles
Round table and chairs by a bay window overlooking a loch and hillsRaasayRaasay House HotelPlace to stay · 8.9 miles
Lichen-covered stone sphinx statue overlooking a manor house and hillsideAttractionsRaasay Battery Cannon and Mermaids9.0 miles
Wooden pier with metal railings leads towards mountains under cloudy skiesAttractionsIronstone Mine at the Old Pier9.0 miles
A walker on the old grassy track above the east coast of Raasay, birch scrub crowding the path.WalksHallaig11 miles
A white house sits beside a stone bridge over a river, misty mountains rising behind.SligachanSligachan CampsitePlace to stay · 16 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near Brochel, and when each is next free.

Colourful houses line Portree harbour beneath misty, tree-covered hillside, with boats moored offshoreCuillin Hills Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Portree
  • 6 miles from Brochel
Check datesRound table and chairs by a bay window overlooking a loch and hillsRaasay House Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Raasay
  • 6 miles from Brochel
Check datesA stag print hangs above a bed dressed with orange cushions and a matching throw in a Bosville hotel room.The Bosville
  • A hotel
  • In Portree
  • 6 miles from Brochel
Check datesAttic bedroom with white panelled walls, double bed and framed floral printThe Crofter's House
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Camustianavaig
  • 7 miles from Brochel
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay on SkyeAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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Read on

What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more on Skye.

From the magazineThe Exchange, Raasay – A Gallery, a Coffee Stop, and a Local’s Map of the IslandCollectionWalks, Wildlife and Nature in SkyeCollectionHistoric Places in SkyeCollectionThe Castles of Skye
More on Skye
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For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .